Doubt
by Rachael Stelzer
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The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord (John 20:20).
Thomas has been known as the doubter for centuries. Earlier, he was called ‘inquisitive Thomas’, but the more recent label has stuck. How unfortunate for this giant of the faith.
Earlier in John’s Gospel, it was Thomas who encouraged his fellow disciples, ‘Let us follow Jesus [to Jerusalem], that we may die with him’ (John 11:16). And Thomas spoke up when Jesus said that he was going to prepare a place for his friends, saying, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ (John 14:5). Thomas was ready to accompany Jesus all the way, even to death. And, as everyone knew, death was the end. If even Thomas, the companion of Jesus, could experience some doubt about his continued life, couldn’t anyone?
And John had recorded earlier instances of people needing to see before they believed. Nathanael had a cynical response after being told about Jesus, ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’ He had to see for himself before he would confess Jesus to be the Son of God. And the Samaritan villagers told the woman from the well that they believed in Jesus, not because of her testimony but because they had seen him for themselves. Mary Magdalene even struggled to recognise Jesus in the garden.
And just after Thomas saw him, Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe’. Was this an indictment on poor old Thomas, whose mind had just been blown, whose life had just changed forever because he had seen the resurrected Jesus?
Or was it an invitation to you – a disciple of Christ – and to me? We who have not seen and yet believe? Did Jesus include us in the ranks of his disciples? John concludes this passage by reminding us that he wrote these events down ‘that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name’ (verse 31).
Risen Lord Jesus, among the ranks of your followers, you graciously include me. I haven’t seen you, yet I have seen your work in my life and my world. How blessed I am by your gift of faith. In this Easter season, remind me of the life I have in your name. Amen.
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